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Calgary teen hopes to crack junior squad

Native Calgarian Hunter Shinkaruk left, and Boone Jenner listen to head coach Steve Spott during the National Junior Team selection camp practise for Team White at the Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary on Tuesday December 11, 2012. Photo: Gavin Young/Calgary Herald

“I’ve wanted this for a long time,” says Hunter Shinkaruk, refusing to give in to the insidious gremlins of doubt.

“I’ve wanted to put on that Canadian jersey for a long time. Be on TSN. Playing in the gold-medal game in this tournament.

“Having this opportunity, and being so close … so cool. I can’t help but smile. And hopefully, I can do my best to make this team and that dream will turn into reality at Christmas.”

In accordance with protocol on Day 1 of on-ice activities at the 2012 World Junior Selection camp, Team Canada hopefuls march out post-practice to facilitate knots of media in front of a long Hockey Canada back-drop that stretches down a large wall-space at the WinSport Ice Complex.

“I remember watching these interviews on TV at a young age,” muses Shinkaruk, as goaltender Malcolm Subban readies to take his turn in the queue, “so it’s kinda surreal that it’s me now. I can’t really believe it. I’m just going to come in and enjoy this experience. It’s not every day a kid from Canada gets to try out for the World Juniors.”

A local kid, on home ice, at the selection camp of his imagination.

He’s right. So cool.

Not that he isn’t fully deserving of the shot.

Shinkaruk is, after all, the eighth leading scorer in the Western Hockey League, having notched 19 goals and 43 points for the Medicine Hat Tigers.

But offence isn’t a rarity within this group and as one of four draft-eligible players here, the left-winger needs no reminding he has ground to make up and minds to change. History is not on his side.

Head coach Steve Spott’s group is even deeper than usual this year owing to the ongoing bickering between the NHL and the players’ union.

Sidney Crosby is the only draft-eligible player to crack a Canadian roster in a lockout season.

“I didn’t know that,” Shinkaruk said. “That’d be pretty neat, to be in that category. Crosby’s a guy I’ve looked up to for a long time. Someone I try to model myself after.”

Complicating his task is the staggeringly short window of opportunity: What amounts to only two days — two scrimmage games to make a vivid impression.

“Yeah, it’s real quick. And, actually, I think that’s good. It gives us less time thinking about how we need to play, just kinda roll into it and play the way we have all year. It’s quick, but we’re gonna have to make a statement pretty soon. I can’t over-complicate the situation, start wondering how the coaching staff wants me to play. I’m here for a reason. I feel that’s what’s going to give me the best shot.

“That’s the confidence you have to have coming into this camp. Trust in your skill-set and use it. I’m going to be at my best using my speed every time I’m on the ice. That’ll allow me to play in all roles.”

On the concourse ringing the international-sized rink, Shinkaruk’s dad, Roger, the longtime dentist for the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, watches his son try to transform ambition into reality. And, like hockey dads everywhere, he’s sweating it out.

“Hunter has a sincere passion for what he’s doing. He has literally dreamt about this since … well, virtually all his life.

“He’s incredibly astute as far as details go. I can remember going to Flames games and him telling me that Jarome Iginla had changed the tape on his sticks. This was when he was four years old.

“For him, this is one goal accomplished — to be here. The next is to make the team. He’s an incredibly focused, very well-balanced kid. He’s very, very realistic. He knows where he is in this camp, what he has to try and do. So, we leave him alone. We talk about a lot of other things than hockey.

“As a parent, you just try to allow your kids to reach their dreams and facilitate whatever you can in doing that. So far, it’s on track for him.”

Having previous experience within the Hockey Canada umbrella helps. He’s a known commodity. But there isn’t only Ufa, Russia, to consider. To crack this team, and perhaps factor in a Canadian redemption tournament, would push his draft stock up.

“It’s gonna be friendly competition. Going into the draft, we all want to be the best. And this is a camp that could separate us. But the first thing on all our minds is sticking around.”

That’s no sure thing, Shinkaruk fully understands.

“There’s a lot of good players in this country,” he said. “Coming here, I knew that. But I’m also confident I can make this team. If I don’t, it’s not something I’m going to hand my head over. I also know that, if not, there’s a chance that maybe I can make it next year.

“But that’s the furthest thing from my mind. I’m not thinking about what can go bad. I’m only thinking about what can go right.